Exergy-based resource accounting for China

The resource accounting of the Chinese economy in 2000 is presented based on exergy as a unified quantifier for natural resources. Major resources entering the economic production include sunlight, wind power, tidal power, wave power, geothermal power, nuclear power, biomass, straw, hydropower, coal, oil, natural gas, wood, ores, agricultural and aquatic products. The resource conversion embracing the paper, food, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, chemical and other industries as well as transportation, household and commerce sectors are illustrated. The efficiencies of the thermal conversion procedures including lighting, mechanical work, space heating, cooking, water heating and process heating are also estimated. The total exergy input of the Chinese economy was 64.76 EJ, which was 51.0 GJ/cap, whereas the total exergy output contained 12.8 EJ or 10.1 GJ/cap, indicating the exergy efficiency was 20%. The present study illustrates the possibilities of increasing exergy efficiencies of different conversion sectors and provides theoretical foundation for policymakers in establishing effective regulatory mechanism of economic production.